Shielded airhose swivel with safety pushbutton disconnect

ABSTRACT

A swivel assembly for fluid conduits with a pushbutton disconnect which includes a body member having a stem member seated therein and both members are connected to fluid conduits, retaining balls seated in the stem for retaining the stem member in the body member, and a spring-biased pushbutton operatively seated in a bore of said stem member whereby the pushbutton is depressed, the retaining balls fall into a nonoperative position, thus freeing the stem member for removal from the body member; and a fluid passage is provided in the stem member for passage of fluid into the pushbutton bore to prevent release of the button when fluid pressure exists in the swivel assembly.

United States Patent Blatt 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SHIELDED AIRH'OSE SWIVELWITH SAFETY PUSHBUTTON DISCONNECT [72] Inventor: Leland F. Blatt, 790Shoreham, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. 48236 [22] Filed: July 30, 1970[211 App]. No.: 59,522

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 962,326 7/1964 Great Britain ..285/3l6PrimaryExaminer-Reinaldo P. Machado Attomey-Cullen, Settle, Sloman &Cantor ABSTRACT A swivel assembly for fluid conduits with a pushbuttondisconnect which includes a body member having a stem member seatedtherein and both members are connected to fluid conduits, retainingballs seated in the stem for retaining the stem member in the bodymember, and a spring-biased pushbutton operatively seated in a bore ofsaid stem member whereby the pushbutton is depressed, the retainingballs fall into a nonoperative position, thus freeing the stern memberfor removal rrom the body member; and a fluid passage is provided in thestem member for passage of fluid into the pushbutton bore to preventrelease of the button when fluid pressure exists in the swivel assembly.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures mcmmm 8 I912 3.640.553

[ 16 3 INVENTOR LELAND F. BLATT raw/Calla. {171% ,M -JQ ATTORNEYSSHIELDED AIRHOSE SWIVEL WITH SAFETY PUSHBUTTON DISCONNECT REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is related in substance tocopending and now abandoned application Ser. No. 2627, filed 1/13/70 forAir Hose Swivel with Push Button Disconnect" and is an improvementthereover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to anairhose swivel joint with a pushbutton disconnect mechanism whicheliminates the necessity of tools ordinarily required to remove theairhose from the swivel. The swivel joint of this invention allows aquick disconnect for replacement or maintenance of certain parts. All ofthe lock parts are maintained in assembly, thus eliminating the loss ofa vital part through the disconnect operation.

In the above identified copending application a swivel joint isdisclosed comprising a pair of locking members retained in the stem ofthe joint and engagable in suitable recesses provided in the sleevemember of the joint to lock the two members together. The stem isprovided with a pushbutton which is normally spring biased to retain thelocking members in the locked position. When the button is manuallydepressed the locking members are permitted to drop out of the recessand into axial slots provided on the button to release the lock forquick disconnection of the joint.

The disadvantage in this construction is that the lock can be releasedand the joint disconnected without regard of existing fluid pressure inthe joint. This provides a serious hazard for the operator or mechanicwhen the joint is disconnected prior to interruption of fluid pressurethrough the joint. Similarily, the joint in the prior application can beaccidentally released by an object hitting the button, providing asimilar hazard.

For the foregoing reasons the present invention has for its primaryobject the provision of a safety feature for such a joint to preventrelease of the lock as long as fluid pressure prevails in the joint.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide shielded airhoseswivel joint with a safety pushbutton disconnect which allows a quickdisconnect for replacement or maintenance of machinery parts without theuse of any special tools, but only when no fluid pressure is present inthe swivel joint.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a swivel jointfor fluid conduits which has internal fluid passage means to pressurizethe release button in the lock position to prevent release of the lockwhen fluid pressure of a hazardous magnitude is present in the joint.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an airhose swiveljoint which will prevent fluid hoses from twisting when they areconnected to actuating machinery.

It is still further object of this invention to provide an airhoseswivel joint which allows a quick disconnect yet retains all the lockingparts in assembly, thus eliminating the loss of vital parts through thedisconnect operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A swivel assembly with a pushbutton disconnectwhich includes a body member having a sleeve portion and a central boreextending through the sleeve portion, the central bore having anenlarged diameter groove adjacent one end of the bore. The body memberalso has a bore intersecting the central bore and opening to theoutside. A stem member is seated in the bore of the sleeve portion, thestem member having an outer end section with bore means therein whichopens to the extreme outer end of the outer section and whichcommunicates at the opposite end of the outer section with the bore inthe sleeve portion and also with the bore intersecting the sleeveportion. The stem member also has an inner end section, cylindrical inshape, having an annular groove adjacent the innermost end of the innerend section, the inner end section also having an axial bore extendingtherethrough and opening to the extreme outer end of the inner endsection. The inner end section also has at least two transverse boresextending from the surface of the cylindrical section to the axial bore.A button is seated in the axial bore of the inner end section, thebutton being substantially cylindrical in shape having an annular grooveadjacent the inner end thereof and an axial bore opening to the innerend thereof, with a spring seated in the axial bore. A retaining ball isseated in the transverse bores of the inner end of the stem member, theballs being confined within the bores by the surface of the buttoninward of the annular groove, whereby when the button is depressed to apredetermined position the balls fall into the annular groove, freeingthe stem for removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Novel features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description and drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through the air hose swivel jointof the invention, shown in the locked position;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating theswivel joint lock in the released position; broken away, fragmentarilyshown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The safety airhose swivel jointwith push button disconnect of the present invention is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The improved swiveljoint comprises a cylindrical sleeve 12 having an internal axial bore 14which is provided with an annular groove 16 adjacent one end thereof fora purpose to appear hereafter. A conduit fitting 18 extends from thesleeve 12 on one side thereof, which has a central bore 20 incommunication with the axial bore 14 of the sleeve. As will beunderstood, a fluid conduit (not shown) is adapted to be connected tothe conduit fitting 18 for passage of fluid from a source of fluid underpressure (not shown) to a fluidoperated mechanism (not shown) with whichthe swivel joint is associated.

The bore 14 of the sleeve member 12 is adapted to receive a stem 22which is slidably inserted therein. The stem 22 is composed of afirstsection 24 and a second section 26 coaxially aligned therewith andwhich are connected together by a reduced diameter neck portion 28within the bore 14 of the sleeve 12 and substantially at the centerthereof.

The first section 24 is provided with an axial bore 30 which terminatesinside the bore 14 into a transverse passage 32 adjacent the reduceddiameter neck portion 28. The reduced diameter portion 28 of the stem 22provides an enlarged fluid chamber 15 of the bore 14 and the transversepassage 32 of the stem 22 opens into the chamber 15 to thereby provide acontinuous fluid communication from the fluid inlet 20, through chamber15, into the transverse passage 32 and out through the bore 30 of thestem 22.

The outer end of the stem 22 is provided with a threaded nipple 34 forthe attachment of the fitting of a fluid conduit (not shown) to that endof the stem 22, as will be understood. Adjacent the nipple 34, the stem22 is provided with a nut head 36 for application of a wrench when thefluid conduit fitting is threaded on the nipple 34. Behind the nut head36, still outwardly of the sleeve 12, the stem 22 is provided with aconical surface 38 around which is disposed an O-ring seal 40 which, inassembly, is clamped between the lateral end surface 13 of the sleeve 12and the conical surface 38 of the stem 22. The conical surface 38 isprovided to cause the O-ring seal 40 to roll down into sealing abutmentagainst the laterial surface 13 of the sleeve to thereby provide aneffective external dust seal for the swivel joint assembly. Immediatelyadjacent the bottom of the conical surface 38, the stem 22 is providedwith a radial flange 42 against which the O-ring seal 38 abuts. Theradial flange 42 defines a pilot portion for engagement within a radialrecess in the lateral end surface 13 of the sleeve 12.

This external sealing arrangement at the fluid outlet end of the stem 22provides an improved feature of the present invention, which effectivelyprevents entrance of dust or other contaminants into the bore 14 of thesleeve 12.

The primary cylindrical body portion 25 of the first section 24 isfitted within the bore 14 and is provided with an external seal assembly44 for sealing engagement against the internal surface of the bore 14 toprevent escape of fluid from the chamber 15 along the body portion 25 ofthe stem. However, the internal seal assembly 44 and external O-ringseal 40 are constructed such as to release excess fluid pressure fromthe fluid chamber 15 which is permitted by means of the O-ring seal 40being disposed around the external conical surface 38, causing theO-ring seal 40 to be displaced upwardly on the conical surface 38 forrelease of the excess fluid pressure to the atmosphere withoutpermitting dirt or dust to enter the bore 14 behind the seal assembly44, which would have an undesirable wear effect on the seal assembly 44.

The other coaxial stern section 26 is disposed within the other end ofthe sleeve 12 and comprises a cylindrical body portion 27 which isfitted within the bore 14. The cylindrical body portion 27 is likewiseprovided, internally of the bore 14, with a seal assembly 46, which issimilar to the seal assembly 44, so that the fluid chamber 15 is sealedoff at both ends of the bore 14. The end of the sleeve 12 is providedwith a seal 48 disposed within a radial recess 50. The seal 48 has aflexible sealing lip portion 49, which extends axially outwardly insealing contact with the external radial surface of the cylindrical bodyportion 27. By the disposition of the sealing lip 49 axially outwardlyforeign matters are effectively prevented from entering the bore 14, butat the same time the sealing lip 49 permits excess fluid pressure fromthe fluid chamber 15 to be bled off into the atmosphere. Thus, it willbe seen that by the incorporation of these improved features aneffective bleedoff arrangement is provided at both open ends of the bore14, which functions in a manner similar to the function of a one-wayvalve.

The cylindrical body portion 27 is provided with an axially centeredblind bore 52 which terminates into a blind end 53 adjacent the reduceddiameter neck portion 28 of the stem.

The blind bore 52 is adapted to reciprocably receive a plunger or button54 provided with a radial seal assembly 56 for sealing engagementagainst the internal surface of the blind bore 52. Between the sealassembly 56 and the inner end of the button 54, the button is providedwith an axially extending groove 58. The inner end of the groove 58comprise a shoulder 59 adapted for abutment against a pair of retainerpins 60 inserted transversely within the body portion 27 for partialextension into the blind bore 52, to thereby limit the outward movementof the button 54.

The button 54 is normally retained in the outward extended positionagainst the retaining pins 60 as shown in FIG. 1, by a bias means suchas a coil spring 62 disposed within a cylindrical recess 64 in thebutton 54 and which other end rests in the blind end 53 of the bore 52.Thus, by expansion of the spring 62 the button 64 is retained outwardly.

The cylindrical body portion 27 of the stem section 26 is provided witha pair of oppositely disposed axially aligned radial apertures 66 and68, respectively, which are located such that, when the stem 22 isassembled into the sleeve 12 the apertures 66 and 68 will be alignedwith the internal annular groove 16 within the sleeve 12. Each of theapertures 66 and 68 is adapted to receive a moveable lock element, suchas a ball 70, for disposal therein. The diameter of the balls 70 is suchthat, in the position of the lock mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1 inwhich the button 54 is extended outwardly, the balls 70 are movedupwardly in their respective apertures 66 and 68 by camrning action ofthe radial surface of the inner end of the button 54, so that portionsof the balls extend into the annular groove l6 of the sleeve 12 therebylocking the stem 22 securely within the sleeve l2.

With reference to FIG. 3, in order to normally release the lock, thebutton 54 is depressed manually inwardly of the cylindrical portion 27against the force of the spring 62, which moves the inner end of thebutton 54 away from underneath the balls 70, causing the balls to dropinto the radial groove 58 of the button and out of the annular groove16, permitting the stem 22 to be removed from the sleeve 12. Obviously,this arrangement provides an effective, quick connect and disconnectmechanism for the swivel joint.

The improved swivel joint of the present invention is provided with animportant safety feature to prevent premature or accidental release ofthe lock under fluid pressure condition within the joint. To this end,an axial passage 72 is provided, extending through the reduced diameterneck portion 28 of the stem and which is in communication with thetransverse passage 32 and the interior of the blind button bore 54.

In operation and with reference to FIG. 1, fluid pressure is appliedthrough the inlet bore 20, as indicated by the flow arrows designated A,for passage into the fluid chamber 15 of the sleeve 12. From the fluidchamber 15 the fluid passes through the transverse bore 32 into the bore30 of the stem 22 for exit out of the joint, as indicated by the flowarrows designated B. However, a portion of the fluid is diverted throughthe passage 72 in the neck portion 28 of the stem and into the blindbore 52 behind the release button 52, as indicated by the flow arrowsdesignated C. Thus, fluid pressure is exerted on the rear end of thebutton 54 to compliment the expansion force of the spring 62 to maintainthe button in the outward lock position, as shown in FIG. 1. Themagnitude of the fluid pressure acting on the button 54 will, of course,be dependent on the particular operational function and applicationrequirements and can be varied by variation in the diameter of thepassage 72.

Thus, as long as fluid pressure prevails in the fluid chamber 15, asapplied through the inlet 20, the button 54 cannot be depressed inwardlyto release the lock. With reference to FlG.

3, as fluid pressure through the swivel joint is reduced to a low,

safe magnitude or completely cut off to provide zero pressure, thebutton 54 can be depressed to permit the lock members 70 to drop intothe groove 58 of the button, permitting the stem 22 to be removed fromthe sleeve 12.

it will be seen from foregoing description and attached drawing that thepresent invention provided an improved, externally sealed swivel jointhaving a safety push button disconnect providing a lock means whichcannot accidently or prematurely be released as long as fluid pressureof a hazardous magnitude prevails within the joint, to therebyeffectively prevent explosion of the joint, such as occurs if the jointwould be disconnected under fluid pressure, causing injury to theoperator.

Additionally, the present improved swivel joint provides improvedexternal sealing arrangements at both ends of the stem, whicheffectively prevents the entrance of foreign matters into the joint, butat the same time permit bleedoff of excess fluid pressure in the fluidchamber of thejoint, thereby preventing a pressure build up between thetwo internal seals of the joint, which would create high friction andadversely affect the ease of rotation of the swivel joint.

Although the present invention has been described by means of apreferred embodiment, it will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains to make certain changes in detail andarrangement without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristic of the present invention as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A swivel joint assembly with a pushbutton disconnect comprising abody member having a sleeve portion and a central bore extending throughsaid sleeve portion, said central bore having an internal radial grooveadjacent one end of said bore, said body member having a first fluidconduit in communication with said bore to convey fluid under pressureinto said bore;

a stem member seated in said bore of said sleeve portion, said sternmember comprising a first end section having bore means thereincomprising a second fluid conduit which communicates at the opposite endof said first section with said bore in said sleeve portion and alsowith said first fluid conduit, a second end section cylindrical in shapeand integrally connected to said first section by a reduced diameterneck portion centrally within said sleeve bore defining a fluid chamber,said second end having an axial blind bore and transverse aperturesextending from the exterior surface thereof to said axial blind bore, abutton seated in said blind bore of said second end, said button havingan annular groove adjacent the inner end thereof and a cylindricalrecess opening to the inner end thereof, said button having a springseated in said cylindrical recess to normally bias said button outwardlyof said bore, means for retaining said button in said blind bore,retaining means disposed in said transverse apertures in said second endof said stem member, said retaining means being confined within saidapertures by the surface of said button at the inner end when saidbutton is biased outwardly for extension of said retaining means withinsaid internal radial groove of said sleeve to thereby lock said stem insaid sleeve, whereby when said button is depressed to a predeterminedposition said retaining means fall into said annular groove in saidbutton to release said stem for removal from said sleeve; and meansfluidly connecting said first and second fluid conduit with said buttonretaining blind bore to pressurize said button outwardly in lockingposition upon conveyance of fluid under pressure through said first andsecond fluid conduits.

2. In the assembly of claim 1, the further provision of a pair of spacedapart annular seal assemblies disposed around said stern internally ofsaid sleeve bore and to both sides of said fluid chamber to preventescape of fluid from said fluid chamber under normal predetermined fluidpressure conditions.

3. In the assembly of claim 2, the further provision of a first sealingmeans externally of said sleeve adjacent one end thereof comprising an0-ring disposed around said stem seated on a conical surface provided onsaid stem to cause said O-ring to slide downwardly into sealingengagement with said end of said sleeve.

4. In the assembly of claim 3, the further provision of a second sealingmeans adjacent the other end of said sleeve and internally confinedtherein comprising a lip portion in sealing engagement with said sternand extending axially outwardly, the improvement comprising said pair ofspaced internal seal assemblies cooperating with said first and secondsealing means to bleed fluid from said fluid chamber in excess of saidpredetermined fluid pressurev 5. In the assembly of claim 1, said meansfluidly connecting said first and second fluid conduit with said buttonretaining blind bore comprising an axial passage extending through saidreduced diameter neck portion.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said buttonin said blind bore in said second end section comprises at least one pinextending through a transverse bore in said second end section andtraversing an arc portion of said blind bore for extension into saidgroove of said button.

1. A swivel joint assembly with a pushbutton disconnect comprising abody member having a sleeve portion and a central bore extending throughsaid sleeve portion, said central bore having an internal radial grooveadjacent one end of said bore, said body member having a first fluidconduit in communication with said bore to convey fluid under pressureinto said bore; a stem member seated in said bore of said sleeveportion, said stem member comprising a first end section having boremeans therein comprising a second fluid conduit which communicates atthe opposite end of said first section with said bore in said sleeveportion and also with said first fluid conduit, a second end sectioncylindrical in shape and integrally connected to said first section by areduced diameter neck portion centrally within said sleeve bore defininga fluid chamber, said second end having an axial blind bore andtransverse apertures extending from the exterior surface thereof to saidaxial blind bore, a button seated in said blind bore of said second end,said button having an annular groove adjacent the inner end thereof anda cylindrical recess opening to the inner end thereof, said buttonhaving a spring seated in said cylindrical recess to normally bias saidbutton outwardly of said bore, means for retaining said button in saidblind bore, retaining means disposed in said transverse apertures insaid second end of said stem member, said retaining means being confinedwithin said apertures by the surface of said button at the inner endwhen said button is biased outwardly for extension of said retainingmeans within said internal radial groove of said sleeve to thereby locksaid stem in said sleeve, whereby when said button is depressed to apredetermined position said retaining means fall into said annulargroove in said button to release said stem for removal from said sleeve;and means fluidly connecting said first and second fluid conduit withsaid button retaining blind bore to pressurize said button outwardly inlocking position upon conveyance of fluid under pressure through saidfirst and second fluid conduits.
 2. In the assembly of claim 1, thefurther provision of a pair of spaced apart annular seal assembliesdisposed around said stem internally of said sleeve bore and to bothsides of said fluid chamber to prevent escape of fluid from said fluidchamber under normal predetermined fluid pressure conditions.
 3. In theassembly of claim 2, the further provision of a first sealing meansexternally of said sleeve adjacent one end thereof comprising an O-ringdisposed around said stem seated on a conical surface provided on saidstem to cause said O-ring to slide downwardly into sealing engagementwith said end of said sleeve.
 4. In the assembly of claim 3, the furtherprovision of a second sealing means adjacent the other end of saidsleeve And internally confined therein comprising a lip portion insealing engagement with said stem and extending axially outwardly, theimprovement comprising said pair of spaced internal seal assembliescooperating with said first and second sealing means to bleed fluid fromsaid fluid chamber in excess of said predetermined fluid pressure.
 5. Inthe assembly of claim 1, said means fluidly connecting said first andsecond fluid conduit with said button retaining blind bore comprising anaxial passage extending through said reduced diameter neck portion. 6.The assembly of claim 1 wherein said means of retaining said button insaid blind bore in said second end section comprises at least one pinextending through a transverse bore in said second end section andtraversing an arc portion of said blind bore for extension into saidgroove of said button.